title: Beta-blocker-induced complications and the patient with glaucoma. Newer treatments to help reduce systemic adverse events.
abstract: Primary open-angle glaucoma is a condition associated with an elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) that is defined as optic degeneration with a slowly progressive deterioration of the visual field that may lead to blindness. More than 1 million Americans are being treated for glaucoma, and 80,000 are legally blind as a result of the disease. Glaucoma has its highest prevalence among the elderly population, with an incidence of approximately 1% in those older than 60 years, 3% in those between the ages of 70 and 80 years, and more than 9% in those older than 80 years. Treatment is directed at lowering high ocular pressures. The initial treatment, in most cases topical therapy with a beta-adrenergic blocking agent, reduces the IOP to help preserve sight. But such topical agents may also have adverse systemic effects on cardiac, pulmonary, central nervous system (CNS), and endocrine functions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, University of South Carolina Medical School, Columbia, USA.
authors.forename: W C
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Stewart
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Garrison
mesh_terms: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000068438:Brimonidine Tartrate; D002319:Cardiovascular System / Q000187:drug effects; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000187:drug effects; D003000:Clonidine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D005902:Glaucoma, Open-Angle / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D000077338:Latanoprost; D009490:Neurosecretory Systems / Q000187:drug effects; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D011461:Prostaglandins F, Synthetic / Q000494:pharmacology; D011810:Quinoxalines / Q000494:pharmacology; D012137:Respiratory System / Q000187:drug effects; D013449:Sulfonamides / Q000494:pharmacology; D013876:Thiophenes / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D011461:Prostaglandins F, Synthetic; D011810:Quinoxalines; D013449:Sulfonamides; D013876:Thiophenes; D000068438:Brimonidine Tartrate; D000077338:Latanoprost; C016986:apraclonidine; C062765:dorzolamide; D003000:Clonidine